A really unexpected day. Despite the Isaiah 53 prophecy, which the disciples should have been familiar with, and all of Jesus’ forecasts, the disciples weren’t ready.

Then all the disciples left him and fled. (Matthew 26.56, ESV)

Some even argue that Judas’ betrayal was a misguided attempt to force Jesus into behaving like a conquering king and overthrowing the Romans. But of course that wasn’t Jesus’ plan.

That didn’t stop Peter from swinging into action:

And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” (Matthew 26.51 – 54, ESV)

After a mock trial, interviews with the Roman governor Pilate, it happened, as we all know:

And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27.33 – 37, ESV)

I can’t do better than a B.C. comic by Johnny Hart:

• Cave man #1: I hate the term “Good Friday.”
• Cave man #2: Why?
• Cave man #1: My Lord was hanged on a tree that day.
• Cave man #2: If YOU were going to be hanged on that day, and he volunteered to take your place, how would you feel?
• Cave man #1: Good
• Cave man #2: Have a nice day.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2.24, ESV)

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5.8, ESV)